Seeking recommendation for health-care providers, (needed quickly!)

[numbersnletters.livejournal.com]

Hi,

I'm a lifelong Boston resident, new to Davis, and seeking several new doctors. Please pardon this dummy account; this is a sensitive subject. My insurance is going to run out very soon... so if you know a good doctor, I would really, really appreciate it if you'd take a moment to recommend them now.

-- thanks so much.

Insurance: I'm on Federal Employee Blue Cross/Blue Shield. BC/BS providers are preferred but technically I can see anyone.

I am seeking a reputable

-- Primary Care Physician
-- queer-positive OB-GYN (must be female)
-- podiatrist
-- oral surgeon

also seeking a physical therapist, a nutritionist and an optometrist...

and (here's hoping for the miracle)

-- a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist who does NOT prescribe psych drugs or work directly with anyone who does. (Please be aware that I will not discuss this preference.)

Please email me at seekadoc@yahoo.com with your recommendations.

Thanks very much for your kindness. Somewhere in Davis, a woman who is terrified of doctors, who waited until the last minute to get checked out is very, very grateful.

Comments

[marphod.livejournal.com]

(Please be aware that I will not discuss this preference.)

With us, or with a doctor?

I know psychotherapists who will ask if you want pharmaceticals in your therapy or not, and will repsect your decision. I don't know of any who don't "prescribe psych drugs or work directly with anyone who does." (That pretty much means they can't work with any reputable hospital or intervention center, and are very limited with whom they can collaborate.)

[numbersnletters.livejournal.com]

With (the greater) you. I'd like to avoid hearing, once again, that:
diabetics : insulin :: people with emotional challenges : addictive, mind-numbing psych drugs. Thanks.

[green-limousine.livejournal.com]

susan mann at harvard vanguard is an awesome ob/gyn.
she's at the cambridge location on cambridge street. not sure if you have transportation there, but i really like her.

[schpahky.livejournal.com]

The ladies at Womanspace, in the Wellspace building behind Staples at Fresh Pond, are awesome. They do not assume your partners are male. They take the time you need and ask the right questions. And they take BCBS.

[krystynayt.livejournal.com]

Well, it's in Porter Square (two blocks from the T stop) but the Women's Mental Health Collective does not have a psychiatrist on staff and in the five months I've been goind there, I have had a lot of trouble finding someone to oversee my meds (I have, as a result, gone cold turkey)... so I'm positive, if you go there, meds will not be far from the focus. Most therapists are pretty respectful of the decision to remain drug-free though.

(FYI, a psychiatrist is the only one qualified to prescribe drugs. If you want to avoid them or any mention of them, a psychiatrist is not the person to go to.)

From a therapy grad student

[siderea]

krystynayt is correct: the only kind of psychotherapist who can prescribe drugs is a psychiatrist; avoiding medication can be pretty much as easy as avoiding psychiatrists (MD) in favor of social workers (LICSW), mental health counselors (LMHC), and psychologists (PhD or PsyD). This has the added benefit of being less expensive, as psychiatrists are running about twice the cost per hour as LICSWs and LMHCs (PhDs are in-between).

I know of a queer-positive female LMHC with twenty years experience in Arlington; is that close enough? She does not work directly with an MD, and if a patient wants an MD she refers them out.

You may also find this post useful.

Re: From a therapy grad student

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

Actually, nurses are able to prescribe as well. Many, many GPs also prescribe psychotropics (not that they should but they do). (I'm a psychologist.)

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

I strongly recommend the Brookline Center for psychotherapy. They do have psychiatrists on staff, but they are very supportive of all treatment decisions. They believe that therapy can work, and they create a space where it can. They are also queer-positive.

As far as queer-friendly doctors, have you tried the Fenway Community Health Center? That's about as queer-friendly as it gets.

Still Seeking

[numbersnletters.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied, I got many well-thought responses.

I'm still in need of an *oral surgeon*!

If you can recommend a decent dentist, they might be able to recommend a surgeon. I've got a little over a week to get my wisdom teeth removed, so if anyone can give ideas I would really appreciate it.

I am still seeking a physical therapist, nutritionist, and an optometrist.

I need to find a space in someone's schedule, so OB-GYN, primary care, podiatry and therapy recommendations are also still welcome. If you prefer not to post this publicly, you may reply to seekadoc@yahoo.com. I am profoundly grateful for your help, thank you.

Re: Still Seeking

[protogeek.livejournal.com]

For an optometrist, I've always just gone to Lenscrafters at the Burlington Mall. If you want a regular exam, they're fine. I wasn't so happy with getting fitted for contacts there (partly due to my wonky eyes and partly because I didn't like the doc, but she doesn't work there anymore).

Re: Still Seeking

[protogeek.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I've been going to Dr. Loren Wilson at North Cambridge Dental Center (just outside Davis on Mass Ave) for years, we call him the painless dentist. I bet he could recommend someone.

Re: Still Seeking

[lissie930.livejournal.com]

Peter Goldstone over by Cambridgeside Galleria is a *wonderful* dentist.
20 Hurley St., Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 491-1403

I've seen eye doctors both at Pearl at Twin City Plaza (on the 87 or 88 bus) and at the Cambridgeside Galleria Lenscrafter, who I thought were fine.

Re: Still Seeking

[jennyelfenmass.livejournal.com]

I had a positive experience with the Gentle Dental in Porter Sq. They have an oral surgeon that works there on Tuesdays. Really great. Even called in the evening after my wisdom tooth removal to make sure I was doing ok.

The Optometrist at Porter Sq (Parelli) is also very good.

Re: Still Seeking

[sokmunky.livejournal.com]

Dr. Malouf, Broadway, Somerville (Winter Hill). He was very professional, and listened to all my concerns. He also managed to fit me in for a same day extraction appointment. I was very impressed with his work. I didn't even need to take pain killers after the extraction.

Re: Still Seeking

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

Dr. Casey Cook of Davis Square Dental is the best dentist in the whole world.

Re: Still Seeking

[julishka.livejournal.com]

it's a hike, but dr. orden in brookline is amazing. he was referred to me by my dentist down at hirshberg dental in p.o. square. got all four of my wisdom teeth out & it was a really good experience.

http://www.jawsurgeon.com/TopLevel.htm is dr. orden's office. they're right on the green line, although you'll need a ride home from the appointment if you go under.

http://www.hirshbergdental.com/ downtown boston congress street location - a block or so from the state street T and several blocks from downtown crossing

also, i've heard good things about the BU dental school but have no personal experience there.

good luck!